ComplaintsforPepper Pike Staffing LLC

• Initial Complaint

  02/04/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I lived in a Pepper Pike Apartment (****) for two years and moved out this past July. Upon moving out, I was told I would be getting my security deposit and prorated rent refund within the next 30-45 days. When nothing came in the mail I began calling and emailing, only to have all my messages ignored. In October, I stopped in to talk with them in person to figure out what was going on. They told me the reason I didn’t get any of my money back was because I had never given them a 60 days notice. This was a lie, as I had gone in person AND emailed (and received a response to the email) in order to notify them of my moving out. The property manager had me forward her the email and fixed up my ledger which showed the complex owed me $1,091. She sent this to Pepper Pike and told me I would be receiving this refund within a month. By December I still hadn’t received anything so I began calling and emailing again, all of which were ignored. Even the emails sent to the property manager were ignored. I visited again 1/31/24. The property manager told me she remembered me but there was nothing she could do, as she was waiting on Pepper Pike to send the refund. She had given me the company number but no extension #, which you need in order to talk with someone. While I was there, she said she sent another message to Pepper Pike and they’d get back to her in a few days; however, I have yet to get anything back, and I can only assume it is going to get ignored again. I would like my $1,091 refunded, preferably by direct deposit (as they are able to take money out of my account that way) and would like to help other people not go through what I have been dealing with for the last 7 months.

  Business response

  02/05/2024

  We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and frustration you have experienced in the process of receiving your security deposit and prorated rent refund. Your concerns are important to us, and we appreciate your patience as we work to resolve this matter.
  
  After reviewing your account, we acknowledge the error in the handling of your refund, and we deeply regret any miscommunication that occurred. We want to assure you that your concerns have been addressed, and a check for the amount owed has been cut today.  You can expect to receive the refund soon via mail.
  
  We are committed to improving our communication and customer service, and your feedback is invaluable in this regard. We sincerely apologize for any lapses in responsiveness that you have encountered, and we will take steps to ensure that such issues are promptly addressed in the future.
  
  If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us directly at ************.  We appreciate your understanding and thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.

  Sincerely,

  *** Apartments Management

  Customer response

  02/09/2024

  [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. 
  
  Regards,
  
  ******* **********
  
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  09/24/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  this is for **** ********* ********** Pepper Pike capital group owns this apt. We have been living in a townhome apartment for two leases now, we recently faced eviction. During that time period of going to court, out AC unit had issues leaking into carpet buckets everywhere, multiple maintenance request put in nothing was done, forced to live with ac unit exposed in ceiling we should not be breathing all the dust and things from ac unit in the ceiling, I guess because we were facing eviction they did not want to do anything about it. Well we have now paid and still living like this and we have photos to provide. expect us to just pay rent and allow you to treat us like this. UNFAIR. please do something about this as soon as possible. We paid all this money and still have no fixed our issue at all. other issues with the ceiling have been uploaded to show how we are expected to live and yet pay on time full amount. These people are money grabbers from low income and middle income people its not fair and I felt I needed to stand up to them there are so many issues here I cannot type them all pest rodents insects, crime, aggressive leasing consulting and management, its a shame to have a place that can still be allowed to charge what they charge I am the only person living in my unit there are maintenance men living in the empty townhomes next to me all other tenets moved due to not paying or just not being happy. I have stayed through it all so long but I will get my justice before I leave.

  Business response

  09/29/2023

  We have responded to the request regarding the air conditioner twice. However, our staff was only able to make certain repairs. We have scheduled the work to be completed by a professional contractor. We will reach out today to expedite the repairs. We have regular weekly pest control, but it per request. Residents may request pest control services via the portal or directly with the resident relations team. Our service in no way is related to the payment history or status of our residents. Our goal is to provide quick and effect service to all of our residents. We do have four on site courtesy officers who are employed with the local police department. They drive marked police vehicles and are available to patrol the property and address specific concerns. We encourage our residents to notify the office via the resident portal or in person of any of their concerns. 

  Customer response

  09/29/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  i feel I am deserved some type of restitution . They are forcing me to live in terrible conditions such as the ceiling being exposed. I need something towards my October rent. This has been going on for too long. 

  
  Regards,
  
  ******* *********
  
  
  
  
   

• Initial Complaint

  07/12/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I've been living in my apartment since January 2023 and pay $615 per month. In January I notice the water damage in my kitchen ceiling that looked like it would cave in. In May I noticed there was mold on the baseboards in the kitchen and living room. I first reported the water damage in January 2023 and later contacted the management office about the mold. I was told they've contacted 3 different companies about coming out to my home, but they said they were short on staff. I followed up with them about someone coming out to my home almost every week since then, but no one has come out. Today when I called the management office I was told all they could do was put me in a different unit, or let me out of my lease for free if they found out I've been living with mold for over 6 months. The apartment I was told they could put me in is $200-$300 more than my current rent, and they did not offer any discount due to this issue. I feel like they've had no sympathy in this situation about me and my 4 year old child living like this.

  Business response

  08/15/2023

  A professional company was sent to her home to access the repairs and test for mold. A new apartment home is being made ready to transfer the resident in to and will be completed shortly. All details and status updates have been shared and communicated with the resident. 

• Initial Complaint

  05/09/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  The only thing that works on the stove is the oven since February. They sent someone here and I was sick that day. So, I did not open the door. I continue to move eyes on the stove around and it is not working. They replaced the stove with a old stove. I have wasted so much food trying to cook on both of these stoves. This stove is having the same exact problem as the last stove. Also, I have a gnat and spider issue. They are coming in through my back and front door. There is water coming in through my door yesterday and my daughter and I both fell on our butts. I called management about the water and they stated that they would send someone out to try and figure out where the water is coming from, but no one has showed up yet. I would like to be refunded in the amount of $615.00.

  Business response

  05/23/2023

  There have been two service requests placed on Monday, May 8th for a pest issue and an unknown water leak. Both items were addressed by maintenance on Wednesday, May 10th. The stove was checked by maintenance as well and was reported to be working fine. Ms. ******** was transferred into her new unit on 1/16/23 due to her old unit having maintenance issues. On 2/21/23 a work order request was entered by Ms. ******** stating her stove was not working properly, maintenance responded and reported they fixed the issue. Another work order request was entered by Ms. ******** on 4/28/23 stating the oven worked fine but two of the stove eyes did not. Maintenance responded on the same day and found that the elements were not connected. He pushed them back into place and completed the work order. No further requests have been made. All maintenance requests have been addressed and completed. No refund will be given as maintenance has responded accordingly. 

• Initial Complaint

  01/30/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  from December 2022 until today’s date Pepper Pike‘s employees have charged tenants their own legal fees for being late on rent one month. This is happened to several people in the building and in the state of Michigan tenants and landlords are responsible for their own legal fees unless determined by a judge. This new property management company is the first to charge a $219 fee on top of $100 late fee totaling $319. I am currently taking them to court and I am going to show the judge the discrepancy in the days for which they let me know about the charges. On 11 January they printed up a paper that said I would be charged but it was posted on my door on the 13th. The paper stated that by the end of the business day I would be charged that legal fee. so they had already charged me the fee and then posted it on my door to make me aware of it. I had recently lost my job in December and tried to work with them to resolve my issues of paying rent perhaps on a payment plan but they were unwilling to work with me or help me do anything or come up with the plan of payment. This company is one of the worst that I’ve ever seen in terms of housing. The company likes to maintain that they practice fair and equal housing as the reason they can’t help me come up with a payment plan and keep telling me that they will see me in court. HORRIBLE COMPANY AND EMPLOYEES

  Business response

  02/06/2023

  Hello Tamer, I am sorry to hear that you lost your job.  According to the lease agreement that you signed, "If we start a case to evict you, either for non-payment of rent or for any other reason, you will be responsible to reimburse us for our court costs and statutory attorney fees as provided by law."  The lease also states, "if you don't pay all rent on or before the 3rd day of the month, you'll pay a late charge of $100."  We are abiding by the lease, which is why you are seeing the late fee and the attorney filing fee associated with your account.  It does appear that the property manager is trying to work with you on your balance, as a partial payment was accepted on 2.3.23.  Please reach out to me directly at [email protected] and we can discuss your current situation directly to see if we can assist in any other way to get your balance caught up and get you back on track with timely rental payments.  

  Thank you

   

• Initial Complaint

  11/14/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My sister and I (co-applicants on the lease included) were residents at Troy Place Apartments in Troy, Michigan from August 2020 until August 2022. Pepper Pike took over property management at the time we resigned our lease for August 17th, 2021 until August 16th, 2022. We gave 45 day notice we were moving out, as shown on the letter required for notice. We returned the keys on August 15th, 2022. We received a letter at our forwarding address at *** ******** *** - as shown by the postmarked envelope, containing our move out statement. As you can see, we are owed $1,390 - for the remaining month of August we paid (as our lease ended halfway through the month and we were no longer living there) + security deposit, and other items listed on the move out statement. The date shows 8/15/2022 in the upper right, the letter is postmarked 8/22/2022. As of today (11/14/2022) we have NOT received a refund check, and our calls have gone unreturned. At the time we relinquished the keys, the “manager” in the office at Troy Place Apartments (managed by Pepper Pike) informed us any refund was out of their hands. I find it hard to believe that employees of Pepper Pike’s property have nothing to do with the refund process. They have our forwarding address, and we are tired of getting the runaround when we were great tenants and work hard for our money. We would like the $1,390 sent via check to *** ******** *** ***** **** ** ***** promptly, or we will need to seek legal advice on how to proceed in this matter. Thank you.

  Business response

  12/05/2022

  RECEIVED VIA EMAIL BY BBB STAFF MEMBER:

  Hello Ms. *******, thank you for reaching out. A check in the amount of $1350 was cut on 11.21.22. Check number ***.  
  
  Please let us know if you have any additional questions.  It was a pleasure assisting you.
  
   
  
  Thank you
  
  Stephanie

• Initial Complaint

  11/10/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Pepper Pike has failed to return security deposit, we are nearing the 60 day mark. Moved out September 14, 2022. Called first week of October, spoke with Ebony the manager. She told me it could take up to 30 days and confirmed the amount. I called on November 4, 2022 and spoke with Ebony in the morning, she said she would get back to me that afternoon, she did not. Called November 7 and spoke with Ebony, she said there had been a transition in accounting and that they had "missed" my refund of rent and return of security deposit. Again she said she would return my call, but did not. Called November 8. No answer. Sent email and was sent a response that this had been sent to accounting and would be "expedited". Also told that I would receive a check number. I called back and spoke with Jeremy, who identified himself as the property manager. He said this had happened to several other former residents and the information had been sent to accounting. They would not provide me with any further information. Sent email November 9, 2022 requesting a check number and requesting overnight shipping, I was told that accounting had been notified and it was in process. As of today November 10, 2022 no check, no check number. Time for small claims and double my security deposit?

  Business response

  11/11/2022

  Hello Ms. ********,

  Thank you for bringing this to our attention.  We will cut a check on Monday 11.14.22 and mail it to the address you provided.  Thank you for your patience and appreciate the opportunity to assist you!

  Customer response

  11/14/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]

   

  Today is 60 days from the move out. Michigan requires that the deposit be returned within 30 days.  I am owed the double security deposit.  If they include this amount in the check, and the check is received this week.  The matter is resolved.  If not, I will file in small claims and get damages as well.  

  MICHIGAN LANDLORD AND TENANT RELATIONSHIPS (EXCERPT)

  Act 348 of 1972
  
  554.613 Action for damages; retention of security deposit; waiver.

  (2) This section does not prejudice a landlord's right to retain any security deposit funds as satisfaction or partial satisfaction of a money judgment obtained pursuant to summary proceedings filed pursuant to chapter 57 of Act No. 236 of the Public Acts of 1961, as amended, being sections 600.5701 to 600.5759 of the Compiled Laws of 1948 or other proceedings at law. Failure of the landlord to comply fully with this section constitutes waiver of all claimed damages and makes him liable to the tenant for double the amount of the security deposit retained.
  
  

   

  
  
  Regards,
  
  ******* ********
  
  
  
  
   

• Initial Complaint

  11/08/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  November 1st I visited Riverview Crossing get a tour of the 1 bedroom apartment. Management wouldn’t give me a tour unless I paid the $50 application and $199.00 Move in admin fee on their website. So I paid my money. The new manager said I couldn’t apply in person with my physical signature which is what I preferred to do because I felt more comfortable taking copies back with me so I could read over what I would be signing to make sure I was making a well informed decision because I was not properly informed of the lease agreement by management. I did not complete the online application for my protection. After I paid my money the new manager and the gentleman named Teddy at ********* ******** gave me a tour of the 1 bedroom apartments and during the apartment tour I was told by the new manager the move in admin fee was refundable. I ended up doing more research on the apartment rental property for my protection and I came across multiple reviews of current and previous tenants who submitted reviews about their experiences living at this apartment complex multiple bad reviews by tenants stating that the management is bad, management doesn’t answer the phone for them after they moved in, that there is rodents, bugs in their apartments, and they did not have heat during the winter. So I started to look elsewhere to see if I could find something better and I did I ended up finding a studio closer to my job a day that fits my situation perfectly and its more affordable with good reviews. So I called to notify the new manager at ********* ******** but gentleman Teddy picked up I told him that I would not be moving in the 1 bedroom apartment and that I found a studio apartment closer to my job and I asked how could I receive my money I paid back. He told me over the phone that it’s non refundable that it’s forfeited. ********* ******** ***** ********* ** ********** ** ***** Managed By: Pepper Pike Capital Partners and Pepper Pike Property Management.

  Business response

  11/11/2022

  Hello Mr. *****,

  Thank you for reaching out.  The application fee is always non-refundable, as we get charged to screen your background. The $199 hold fee would be refundable if you were denied, if you cancel, the hold fee would not be refundable, as we took an apartment off of the market for you and held that apartment anticipating your move in.  Please let us know if you have any questions.  Thank you for the opportunity to assist you.

  Thank you

• Initial Complaint

  08/08/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Pepper Pike (Cleveland, OH based) has been nothing but trouble since buying F***** **** ********** (in St Louis, MO) this June. First they raised my rent by more than $300 with barely any notice just because I'm a month-to-month leasee?? And unfortunately that alone doesn't warrant BBB intervention, but WOW talk about being predatory towards a low-income community just trying survive inflation. Luckily I have a great job now, so I'm canning them, which brings me to my next points. They have about zero punctuality and availability. They NEVER answer the phone, never call back, never adhere to the 9-5 M-F sign on the front door, and sometimes you can see someone sitting at the front desk through the window with the front door locked! Recently they had the courtesy to tape up a sign that said they have staff inside but are "unavailable due to training" - we are in month 2 so their staffing/training matters should be done with and getting work done. They use an online Portal "**** ****" to handle tenants' rent payments. By the time I was finally able to log in toward the end of June, it's erroneously showing that I still owe for June's rent. June was paid to the previous owner. Throughout all July we've discussed this, I've provided them receipt, assured it's cleared my bank, and it's still not resolved. I don't want this to spiral down into possibly going into collections, hurting my credit score, and/or getting evicted due to their incompetence. Their **** ****** also shows a monthly rent of $695. this is an old amount from a few months ago. i'm pretty sure they lost my current lease and have failed to update rent to the new amount of $970-ish. And of course with my own stupidity, this was the one time I didn't ask for a copy! I was forced to pay the inaccurate amount of $695 for July and August! And I DON'T want this to come back to bite me, again, due to their fledgling incompetence!!!

  Business response

  08/23/2022

  RECEIVED VIA EMAIL BY BBB STAFF MEMBER:

  Hi Mr. **********, thank you for reaching out. I believe that you have been in touch with our property manager and this has been resolved.  June’s balance has been waived and the proper charges are reflecting for August rent. Please let us know if there is anything else that we can do to assist. Thank you

  Customer response

  08/27/2022

  [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. 
  
  Regards,
  
  ******* **********
  
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  07/27/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Fraud Refusing to call me back when I call the office or corporate They owe me $199 and sent my first check to a made up fake address I have not received my money. Corporate or 9 on the canal will not answer the phone.

  Business response

  08/03/2022

  RECEIVED VIA EMAIL BY BBB STAFF MEMBER:

  Hi Mr. *******, thank you for reaching out.  A check was never issued for your $199 deposit.  Since you paid with credit card, company practice is to always refund the credit card. Once you were informed that your application was denied, you tried to dispute the charge on your credit card with your credit card company. Since you have an open claim with the credit card company disputing the charge, your credit card company will not allow us to issue a refund back on the card since the charge is under investigation.  Once you have the issue cleared up with your credit card company, we would be more than happy to make the refund.  Please keep us posted. 

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩